WZAW-LD

WZAW-LD, virtual and UHF digital channel 33, is a low-powered Fox-affiliated television station licensed to Wausau, Wisconsin, United States and serving north-central Wisconsin, including Rhinelander. Owned by Gray Television, it is a sister station to CBS affiliate WSAW-TV (channel 7). The two stations share studios on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau; WZAW-LD's transmitter is located northeast of Nutterville in unincorporated Marathon County.

WZAW-LD
Wausau, Wisconsin
United States
ChannelsDigital: 33 (UHF)
Virtual: 33 (PSIP)
BrandingFox WZAW (general)
NewsChannel 7 (newscasts)
SloganYour Local News and Weather Authority
Programming
Affiliations33.1/7.3: Fox
33.2: MeTV
33.3: Movies!
33.4: Heroes & Icons
Ownership
OwnerGray Television
(Gray Television Licensee, LLC)
WSAW-TV, WEAU, WMTV, WBAY-TV, WLUC-TV
History
FoundedMay 27, 2015 (2015-05-27)
First air date
July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01)
LD4: Laff (until 2019)
LD5: Stadium (until 2019)
Call sign meaning
disambiguation of WSAW
("Z" added in honor of former News Director Mark Zelich)
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID183262
ClassLD
ERP15 kW
HAAT313 m (1,027 ft)
Transmitter coordinates45°3′22″N 89°27′54″W
Translator(s)WSAW-DT 7.3 (VHF) Wausau
7.3 (UHF) W21DS-D3 Sayner/Vilas County, WI
Links
Public license information
Profile
LMS

Overview

Since WZAW transmits at low-power, its signal does not reach Rhinelander or other areas to the north and east (such as Eagle River and Crandon), which would have caused complications, especially for Fox's broadcasts of NFL games, including games of the Green Bay Packers. Therefore, the station is simulcast on WSAW's third digital subchannel in 720p high definition to increase its over-the-air broadcasting radius. This signal broadcasts on virtual and VHF channel 7.3 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain. It is also seen on WSAW's Sayner translator, W21DS-D3, which also maps to PSIP channel 7.3.

History

On July 1, 2015, Gray bought the non-license assets of the market's previous Fox affiliate WFXS-DT (owned by Davis Television, LLC). Due to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ownership restrictions, Gray established this new low-powered station to become the new Fox affiliate. All of WFXS' program streams including its existing PSIP channel numbering was then moved to WZAW. Subsequently, WFXS ceased broadcasting after nearly sixteen years on-the-air and its studios on North 3rd Street in Wausau were shut down.[1][2]

In consenting to the interference that would be caused by WZAW operating under special temporary authority on channel 31 (the same RF channel as WFXS) rather than its licensed channel 33, Davis Television stated that it would return the WFXS license to the FCC for cancellation following the sale.[3] In August 2015, WSAW launched a prime time newscast on this Fox outlet known as WZAW News at 9. The half-hour broadcast offers direct competition to WAOW's thirty-minute, weeknight-only news airing at the same time on its CW digital subchannel.

In September 2016, WZAW moved from virtual channel 55 and RF channel 31 to RF and virtual channel 33. In 2017, its simulcast on WSAW-DT3 was upgraded to high definition to provide full-market access to Fox programming in HD.

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP short name Programming [4]
33.1
7.3		720p16:9WZAW-HD
Fox		Main WZAW-LD programming / Fox
33.2480iMeTVMeTV
33.3MOVIESMovies!
33.4Heroes & Icons

References
  1. "Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones". TVNewsCheck. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  2. http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Channel-7-Parent-Company-Accquires-Wausau-Fox-Station-311311791.html?ref=791
  3. Raff, Robert (June 9, 2015). "Interference Consent" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  4. http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WZAW-LD#station
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